Remember when the dual SIM feature was considered the height of mobile phone technology? That functionality was a game-changer for people who had to manage two or more devices, typically to keep their work and personal lines separate. Funny to think about it now that dual SIM devices are starting their slow crawl to obsolescence thanks to the rise of the eSIM.
What is an eSIM?
The embedded SIM, or digital SIM, is a programmable chip that’s activated remotely and built into the hardware of smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, wearables, and IoT devices. It’s a significant breakthrough in connectivity and device architecture, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and SIM card slots.
SIM cards have been around for nearly three decades and the eSIM is a relatively new technology in comparison. Mobile connectivity device manufacturers are major proponents of eSIM tech adoption, especially Apple, with its eSIM-only Apple watches, and iPhone and iPad models. eSIM-compatible mobile phones can store multiple eSIM profiles, and users can easily switch between them as needed. However, depending on the device and carrier, typically only one or two active eSIMs are allowed at a time.
Is Your Device eSIM Compatible?
Short answer, if your phone model is fairly new and from a major manufacturer, chances are it is eSIM-compatible. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you can start using eSIMs. Other crucial factors determine compatibility and it varies globally:
Device Limitations
An unlocked eSIM-capable device can use any eSIM from any carrier, but if a device is locked to a specific carrier and limited to their services, you won’t be able to activate eSIMs from other providers.
Sometimes, even if your phone is locked to a local carrier, you may be allowed to use eSIMs abroad, it all depends on carrier policies, which brings us to the next point.
Carrier Support
Not all carriers have fully adopted eSIM technology, and their network infrastructure may not provide optimal support for it. In some countries, local carriers may not offer eSIM support at all, and for those that do, a registration process or device identification may be required to activate it. While eSIMs are convenient in theory, their practical implementation is not universally accessible.
Regulatory Considerations
Varying telecommunications regulations per country will determine eSIM usage and adoption. For instance, Europe eSIM for travel is pretty straightforward, but in mainland China, a range of internal security and economic measures prevents connectivity devices, even the latest iPhone models, from supporting eSIMs. Tourists traveling to China can purchase travel eSIMs for use during their stay before arriving. However, once in China, they will find that only local SIM cards are available for purchase.
Traveling? Check If You Can Use eSIM on Your Phone
eSIMs for travel are arguably the most convenient option when traveling. Previously, your choices were limited to paying for roaming or buying a local SIM card and swapping it out. Now, you can quickly purchase, activate, and use a travel eSIM. Beyond convenience, it’s also cheaper and more reliable. Wouldn’t it be a hassle to travel overseas only to discover that travel eSIMs won’t work on your eSIM-capable phone? Here’s how to ensure that doesn’t happen to you:
- Check Your Phone Specs and Settings: Look up your phone’s model technical specifications or go to your phone’s settings and look for an “Add eSIM” option. You can also try searching for “IMEI” in the settings.
- Contact Your Carrier: When in doubt, verify with your carrier. Don’t assume you can use any eSIMs from any provider just because your device has the hardware for it.
- Check your destination: While eSIM is widely supported in many regions, some countries do not support eSIM or have limited carrier options.
Can I Make My Phone eSIM Compatible?
You can get your device unlocked and switch carriers but eSIM compatibility is a matter of hardware—it’s either built into your phone, or it isn’t. There’s no way to retrofit or add eSIM functionality through a software update.
Unlike Apple, other major manufacturers have yet to release an eSIM-only mobile phone model. However, with each new product cycle, we see the eSIM gaining more traction. eSIM functionality is quite handy, especially if you plan to do some traveling, so keep this in mind when it’s time to upgrade or replace your mobile phone.
